MESSIER-DOWTY FIRST TO ADOPT SITA’S NEW XML-BASED MESSAGING SERVICE FOR THE AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

October 4, 2007 – SITA today announced a new XML-based messaging service for the air transport industry (ATI) with the potential to transform business-to-business communications. Messier-Dowty Ltd, the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and support of landing gear systems, in service on more than 19,500 aircraft, is the first customer to adopt the new SITA solution.

Messier-Dowty collaborates with many partners in delivering solutions to more than 2,000 aircraft operators, and is looking to reduce cost of doing business. To do so they need to convert their existing order and delivery mechanism from a manual to an automated process, maximising the use of electronic processing and communications. An internal systems review made it clear that leveraging Extensible Markup Language (XML) was the best way to achieve a high level of data standardisation.

Andy Crowther, e-Services Manager, Messier-Dowty, said: “Reducing the cost of doing business has become a key business imperative. SITA’s Type X Messaging Service opens the door to data standardisation across our supply chain, and will enable us to better communicate with partners and customers. Working with SITA was an easy choice as it is the leader in Operational Messaging within our industry and it is at the forefront of standards development.”

René Azoulai, Senior Vice President, Communications Services, SITA, said: “We are committed to continuing to drive down total messaging costs while assuring total interoperability between all industry players, networks and technologies. We look forward to working closely with Messier-Dowty – and the rest of the industry – in driving the adoption of XML technologies.”

About SITA Type X Messaging Service

Based on XML and Web Services, the SITA Type X Messaging Service leverages the Type X standard, developed by SITA in partnership with other leading ATI members and currently being discussed for adoption as an IATA standard. By accepting and delivering messages in XML format the service enables the easy sharing of information between ATI business partners while maintaining the security and reliability required for mission-critical information.

The high levels of interdependence between business partners within the ATI – for sales, distribution and day-to-day operations – makes the increased business agility provided by the SITA Type X Messaging Service particularly valuable.

The key benefits of the SITA Type X Messaging Service include:

Reliable, secure, aviation-grade communications
Flexible technology ready to meet future needs
Leverages the Type X standard, developed by the air transport community
Ability to integrate via XML, leading to increased business agility
Increased ROI on existing XML-based development tools
Lower software development and maintenance costs
Lower cost, less complex IT environments
Prevalent skill base
Global support

The SITA Type X Messaging Service is available worldwide and is accessed through any Internet or private SITA network connection. Supported by industry leading service level agreements and a disaster recovery service, the service enables a cost-effective solution to ATI business communication needs.

For more information on the new SITA Type X Messaging Service, please visit www.sita.aero.

About Operational Messaging

The ATI depends on operational messaging providers who enable the tens of thousands of different industry players around the world to communicate with each other.

The exchange of data messages underpins every single aspect of day-to-day operations across the industry – from air traffic control to passenger reservations, check-in and departure control, and from flight plans and cargo manifests to the transmission of advance passenger information (API) to the governments that require it.

SITA is the undisputed Operational Messaging leader in the ATI, transmitting over 350 messages every second, day in, day out, year round.

For more information on Operational Messaging, please visit www.sita.aero.

Notes to Editors:

About SITA

SITA is the world's leading service provider of integrated IT business solutions and communication services for the air transport industry. SITA manages complex communication solutions for its air transport, government and GDS customers over the world's most extensive communication network, complemented by consultancy in the design, deployment and integration of communication services. Its broad range of airline and airport IT applications and services includes airport operations and integrated baggage services, common use and desktop services, flight operations and air-to-ground communications and end-to-end airline distribution and fares services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is leading the race to bring in-flight mobile telephony to the market, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company solely dedicated to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management. In addition, SITA sponsors .aero, the Internet top level domain reserved exclusively for aviation.

SITA covers 220 countries and territories and the head office is in Geneva, Switzerland. SITA had consolidated revenues of US$1.481 billion (€ 1.194 billion) in 2006.